Life raft releasing mechanism



Aug.. 19, 1947. A, N ANDERSQN 2,425,910

LIFE RAFT RELEASING MECHANISM 2 sheds-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1944 lINVEN TOR. ARTHUR N.ANDER50N. BU

Mmm/l- Aug. 19, 1947.

A. N. ANDERSON LIFE RAFT RELESING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 28, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 *3 INVENTOR 141? THUR N. ANDEKSN.

- ArrogNEY k@ .NN i@ Patented ug. 19, 194? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to multiple release for rafts or floats. It is particularly directed to a quick releasing device for releasing square or doughnut type floats from the sides of ships.

Considerable difficulty has been encountered in dropping floats or rafts from ships fast enough in an emergency, thereby preventing quick getaway of the raft from a sinking or burning ship. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide highly improved means to support and release such floats without any chance of fouling, the construction being such that the rafts can be released even if the ship lists considerably.

Another object of this invention is to provide a float support so arranged that if the ship sinks the rafts will float off their supports without launching or necessity for manually releasing the rafts.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for mounting the floats or rafts against the side of the ship, singly or in pairs of superposed floats, means being provided to release the floats mounted in pairs one at a time, the release construction being such that the floats are released top and bottom so that there is no chance of the supporting rope fouling.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a float supporting and releasing means of the character described, in which a single operator actuating one control device can release a number of pairs of floats supported along the side of a ship.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide strong, rugged and durable float supporting and releasing means of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, and yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplined in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a front elevational View of the side -of a ship showing two pairs of floats provided with supporting and releasing devices embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a crcss-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational partial view of the shaft or rod which extends along the side of a ship and onto which the supporting ropes are hooked.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the control device for releasing the oats.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line B- of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. l0 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View taken on line l l-I I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the pelican hook for the supporting rope or cable which may be used in emergencies.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the pelican hook opened up.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates the side of a ship comprising an upper deck Il and a lower deck I 2. In the drawing, I3 designates one side of the ship supporting the lower deck. On the upper deck is the ship rail I4.

Means is provided to support the floats or rafts I6 in superimposed or stacked pairs against the side of a ship. To this end there is attached to the outer side of the ship Wall 13 pairs of similar, symmetrical pivoted or hinged brackets I8. Each pair of brackets I8 have aligned openings I9. The axes of the pivoted openings I9 of each of brackets are inclined to one another, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Pivoted to the pair of brackets I8 are a pair of similar hooks 20. Each hook 20 has pintles 2| journalled in the openings I9. The hooks 20 are curved to engage the outer surface of one of the floats 16.

At the outer end of hook 20 are parallel hinge lugs 23 formed with aligned hinged openings 24.

,Pivoted to the lugs 23 of each hook 20 is a second horizontal shaft or rod 3|. Rod 3| eXtends along the side of the ship and is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the hangers 3U. On the rod and above each pair of oats |6 are a pair of upstanding lugs 34, 35. The lugs 34 and 35 are spaced from one another; and lug 34 is normally inclined forwardly and upwardly whereas lug 35 extends straight up. The lugs are thus radial relative to the rod 3| and at an angle t0 each other.

To support the inner float or raft I there is provided an endless wire rope or cable 4|) h'ooked over the lug 35 and passing between the two floats and engaging the upper end of the inner float and around the lugs 23. The wire rope thus pulls up on the hooks 28 which support the underside of the float, and said wire rope also engages the upper end of said float. When drawn t-aut theA wire rope loop is substantially triangular in shape, the base of the triangle being the part between lugs 23.

To support the outer oat I6' there is provided a wire rope 'or `cable 41. Ihe wire rope or cable 4| is hooked over the lug 34 and passes over the outer side of said float and is hooked' onto the hooked portions 26 of the hooks 25. The wire rope 4| is likewise endless and substantially triangular in shape as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The hooks 25 thus support the lower end of the outer float whereas the rope 4| engages th'e upper end of said iloat toV keep it against the inner float.

At the lower end of the railingY there may be provided backboards 45 attached to the ship and hav-ing semi-circular cut-outs to engage the rear floats I6 to hold them against side movement.

Means is provided to rst release all of the outer floats I B simultaneously and then all of the inner floats ||A simultaneously. To this-end there is attached to the underside of the upper-*deck a bracket 58v provided with a vertical guide 5|. Slidably mounted inv thel guide 5| is a rack 5-2. Attach'ed to the guide 5| are ears 53 having openings 54 in which the rod-3| is journalled.

Fixed to the rod 3| is la gear 56 meshing with rack 52. Attached tothe upper side of thedeck isia bas'eplate-'5-'land iixedthereto is a verticalupstanding tubel5'8. |The plate 51 as welly as deck ||i is formed. with registering through openings, `and extending through said openings is a verticall rodi; contacting 'the upper end of the rack 452. Said rod Silex-tends upwardly above the tube 58. and is provided with' an oiset handle 6| extending-'at right angles to said rod.

Fixed: tothe upper end of the rod 60. substantially. atv thev upper end ofI tube 58 is a transverse pindiprojecting fromop'positesides of said rod. There isA also xed' tov rod 60 at a point spacedv below the transverse pin 674 another transverse pinf65 likewise extending to opposite sidesof the rod'. Pin 54. is. disposed at right angles to pin 65;

The handlewliflf is formed'with a recess 61| a on the underside. thereof. Pivoted to the underside of the, handle '81. isa bellcranki'l having an arm 68" disposed withinthe recess'l'a. The bell crank 6,1. has `another downwardly extending armV 69.

for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Interposed between arm E81 and handle '5| is a U.shaped spring ldwhichtends torotate the bell crankfl inaol'ockwise direction. looking. at Fig. 7.

Screwed to; the upper end' oftube` 58.is -acup-4 shaped` 'cover or cap '|3V formedl with. a. central round opening. 14; havingdiametrically, opposed slot` extensions.'|5,thus forming a keyslot; The

slots 'I5 are so proportioned that the wings 64 and 65 can pass therethrough, should said wings become aligned with said slots.

The cup 'i3 is provided with a U-shaped radial lug 'i8 adapted to receive the lower end of arm 69 of the bell crank 61. The lug 'I8 extends in the plane of the slot l5. When arm 69 engages within lug T8 the wings 64 are at right angles to the slot 15. To release the outer floats IB, bell crank 6l is pressed up to disengage arm 69 from lug '|8. Rod 68 is then rotated about its axis through an angle of 90 to bring the wings 64 into alignment with the slots 15.

It will be. noted that the pull of ropes 40 and 4| on the lugs Sri, 35 tends to rotate the gear 56 in a counterclockwise direction looking at Fig. '7, thereby causing an upward pressure of the rack 52 against the underside of rod 5U. As soon as the wings 64 are aligned with the slots 15 therefor, the rod 60 will be pressed or pushed upwardly until the wings 65 contact the underside of the cup 13.. This movement of the rack 52. is accom.- panied. by rotation of the gear 56 through a sudi.- cient angle to permit the ropes 4| to disengage from the lugs. As soon as said ropesvdisengage the lugs 34, they will drop down thus releasing the hooks 25 which also drop down about the pivoted lugs '23 thereby entirely releasing the outer oats which drop into the water.

The operator may then release the inner floats l5 by again turning the rod 60 through an angle of 90 to bring the wings 65 into alignment with the slots I5 thereby permitting the rack '52' to press the rod' 55. upwardly and permitting rotation of shaft 3| andits gear 56; Such rotation of rod 3| will bring thel lugs 35 down to such an angle thatV the inner ropes 4|) will disengage therefrom permitting hooks 20 to swing. down and thereby releasing the inner iioats. Thus the operator canr iirst release all of the outer oats, and-then all vof the linner floats.

I-fy there* is insuiicient head room above the upper deck for'movement of the rod 60 upwardly during the releasing operation, then the entire releasing mechanism may be reversed and the rack engaged with the outer-side of the gear 55 instead of with the inner side. 1n such case the rod Sil-will be pressed downwardly'to release the ropes, instead of upwardly.

In Figs. 10 and 11 there is shown a modied construction in which bevelled gears are substituted 'for the gear and rack of Fig. '7. As shown in the drawing, there is attached to the upper deck II a base plate 5l formed with a through opening which extends also through the upper deck. Attached to the underside ofthe upper deck |i| is a bracket 8|). Attached to bracket 8D are ears 8| in whichis journalled-t'he rod 3|. On rod 3| is a bevel gear 83. Also supported by the bracket 8G is a bearing 85 Ion which-is journalled a verticalrod 86.

Splined tosaid rod'fis a bevel gear'l meshing with said beveligear 83. The bearing may con tact `the upper side ofthe bevel gear 81T.

Attached to the base plate 5T andy extendingupwardly therefrom is a tube 88 formed at its upper end with a.Z'-s'hapedslot 89. -Slot 85 has aI horizontal lower. portion 90. a verticalV portion 9i extending from one end of slot portion 98g and a horizontal slot portion-92 extending vfrom the upper end. of vertical slot Iport-ion 9|, but in an opposite direction to slot portion 98i Fixed to rod 86- is a radial pin Sdi passing through the slot 89. At the upper end -of rod 86 is an offset handle 95 formed with a recess 35a on its underside. Pivoted to the underside of the handle 95a is a bell crank 91 having an arm 9S received within the recess 95a. Bell crank 91 also has a downwardly extending arm 99 engaged within a retainer lug I U0 at the upper end of the tube 88. Interposed between arm 98 and handle 95 is a U-shaped spring lill which normally urges arm 99 into the retainer lug IBD. When arm 98 is pressed upwardly into recess 95a arm 99 disengages from retainer lug |00, permitting rod 86 to be rotated through a predetermined angle determined by the angular extent of slot portion 9B. During such rotation of rod 86, bevel gear 8'! will rotate bevel gear 83, thereby rotating rod or shaft 3| about its axis through a suicient angle to release the outer oats, as described heretofore.

The rod 86 may then be pulled upwardly to bring the pin 94 through slot portion 9i into slot portion 92, Handle 95 may then be turned to rotate rod 8S through another angle determined by the angular extent of slot portion 92, thereby again rotating bevel gear 83 to release the inner iioats.

The ropes 45 and 4I may be endless. However, in order vto permit release of said ropes in case of emergency, each rope may comprise a length of rope connected together by a pelican hook l lil as shown in Fig. 12 and well known in the art. In Fig. 13, the pelican hook l I0 is shown opened up to permit the rope to be released.

It will be noted that the rod 3l may be rotated suil'iciently to release the oats even if the ship lists to a considerable eXtent.

If the ropes 49 and 4l are made of diameter steel cable they will be suniciently stiff to allow the rafts to float off from a sinking ship without launching, that is without the necessity of releasing the handles as described hereinabove.

If desired, the floats Si] can be mounted singly. In such case the hooks 25 are omitted and only the inner ropes 45 are used and they are hooked over the lugs 35. In such event furthermore, the outer ends of the hooks 2l) may be made like the hook portions 26.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is Well adapted to .meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a life raft, a pair of hooks pivoted to the side of a ship and engaging the lower end of the life raft at opposite sides thereof, a rod rotatably mounted on the ship and provided with a lug, a rope hooked over said lug and engaging the upper end of the life raft and releasably engaging the outer ends of said hooks, and means to rotate said rod whereby to disengage said lug from the rope to permit the rope to drop, thereby permitting said hooks to swing downwardly aboutl their pivoted ends and release the rait to permit it to drop into the water.

2. In combination with a hook pivoted to a ship and engaging the underside of a life raft, a rod j'ournalled on said ship and a-bove said life raft and provided with a lug, a rope hooked over the lug and engaging the outer end of said pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of said life raft to hold it against the side of the ship, and means to rotate said rod to disengage the lug from the rope, whereby said rope will disengage the hook and permit it to swing down on its pivot to release the life raft.

3. In combination with a hook pivoted to a ship and engaging the underside of a life raft, a rod journalled on said ship and above said life raft and provided with a lug, a rope hooked over the lug and engaging the outer end of said pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of said life raft to hold it against the side of the ship, and means to rotate said rod to disengage the lug from the rope, whereby said rope will disengage the hook and permit it to swing down on its pivot to release the life raft, a second hook pivoted to `the outer end of the rst hook and engaging the underside of a second life raft superimposed against the side of the rst life raft, said rod being provided with a second lug disposed at an angle to the first lug, a second rope hooked over the second lug and engaged with the outer end of the second pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of the second life raft to hold it against the side of the rst life raft, said second lug being disposed at such an angle to the first lug so that rotation of said rod will iirst disengage the second rope from the second lug before the lirst rope will disengage from the rst lug.

4. In combination with a hook pivoted to a ship and engaging the underside of a life raft, a rod journalled on said ship and above said life raft and provided with a lug, a rope hooked over the lug and engaging the outer end of said pivoted hook, said rope engaging the .upper end of said life raft to hold it against the side ofY the ship, and means to rotate said rod to disengage the lug from the rope, whereby said rope will disengage the hook and permit it to swing down on its pivot to release the life raft, a gear on said rod, a rack slidably mounted on said ship and meshing with said gear, a, tube xed to said ship,

a member slidably and rotatably mounted in said tube and contacting said rack, means to prevent Y sliding of said member in said tube, said means being releasable in a. predetermined angular position of said member relative to said tube.

5. In combination with a hook pivoted to a ship and engaging the underside of a life raft, a rod journalled on said ship and above said life raft and provided with a lug, a rope hooked over the lug and engaging the outer end of said pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of said life raft to holdv it against the side of the ship, and means to rotate said rod to disengage the lug from the rope, whereby said rope will disengage the hook and permit it to swing down on its pivot to release the life raft, a second hook pivoted to the outer end of the first hook and engaging the underside of a second life raft superimposed against the side of the iirst life raft,

. said rod being provided With a second lug disposed at an angle to the rst lug, a second rope hooked over the second lug and engaged with the outer end of the second pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of the second life raft to hold it against the side of the rst life raft, said second lug being disposed at such an angle to the rst lug so that rotation of said rod will first disengage the second rope from the second lug before the first rope will disengage from the first lug, releasable means to hold said rod against rotation, and means to limit rotation of said rod to a predetermined angle upon releasing the same for rotation, whereby to permit disengagementV of the second rope with the second lug, said limiting means being releasable to permit further rotation of said rod whereby to permit disengagement of the rst rod with the first lug.

6. In combination with a life raft, a pair of hooks pivoted to the side of a ship and engaging the lower end of said life raft at the side thereof, a rod rotatably mounted on the ship above said life raft, a triangularly shaped rope engaging the outer ends of said pivoted hooks and contacting the upper end of the' life raft, and means on said rod to engage said rope, whereby to hold the life raft against the side of the ship.

7. In combination with a life raft, a pair of hooks pivoted to the side of a ship and engaging the lower end of said life rait at the side thereof, a rod rotatably mounted on the ship above said life raft, a triangularly shaped rope engaging the outer ends of said pivoted hooks and contacting the upper end of the life raft, means on said rod to engage said rope, whereby to hold the life raft against the side of the ship, and releasable means to prevent rotation of said rod.

8. In combination with a life raft, a pair of hooks pivoted to the side of a ship and engaging the lower end of said life raft at the side thereof, a rod rotatably mounted on the ship above said life raft, a triangularly shaped rope engaging the outer ends of said pivoted hooks and contacting the upper end of the life raft, means on saidrod to engage said rope, whereby to hold the life raft against the side of the ship, releasable means to prevent rotation of said rod, and means to permit limited rotation of said rod.

9. In combination with a life raft, a pair of hooks pivoted to the side of a ship and engaging the lower end of said life raft at the side thereof, a rod rotatably mounted on the ship above said life rait, a triangularly shaped rope engaging the outer ends of said pivoted hooks and contacting the upper end of the life raft, means on said rod to engage said rope, whereby to hold the life raft against the side of the ship, releasable means to prevent rotation of said rod, means to permit limited rotation of said rod, said last means comprising a gear on said rod, and a rack meshing with said gear, a tube on said ship, a rod in said tube contacting said rack, said last rod having an offset handle extending outside of the tube, a transverse pin on said second rod and within said tube, and a cover at the upper end of said tube formed with slots adapted to permit said transverse pin to pass therethrough upon rotating said second rod to align said transverse pin with said slots.

10. In combination with a hook pivoted to a ship and engaging the underside of a life raft, a rod journalled on said ship and above said life raft and provided with a lug, a rope hooked over the lug and engaging the outer end of said pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of said life raft to hold it against the side of the ship, and means to rotate said rod to disengage the lug from the rope, whereby said rope will disengage the hook and permit it toswing down on its pivot to release the life raft, asecond hook pivoted to the outer end'of the rst hook and engaging the underside of a second life raft superimposed' against the side of the rst life raft, said rod being provided with a secondlug disposed at an angle to the first lug, a second rope hooked over the second lug and engaged with the outer end of the second pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of the second life raft to hold it against the side 0f the rst life raft, said second lug being disposed at such an angle to the rst lug so that rotation of said rod will first disengage the second rope from the second lug before the first rope will disengage from the rst lug, a gear xed to said rod, a rack meshing with the gear, a tube xed to said ship, a second rod rotatably and slidably mounted in said tube and contacting said rack, a cap on said tube formed with a keyslot, a pair of longitudi` nally and angularly spaced pins adapted to pass through said keyslot upon alignment therewith, and a handle on said second rod.

11. In combination with a hook pivoted to a ship and engaging the underside of a life raft, a rod journalled on said ship and above said life raft and provided with a lug, a rope hooked over the lug and engaging the outer end of said pivoted hook, said rope engaging the upper end of said life raft to hold it against the side of the ship, and means to rotate said rod to disengage the lug from the rope, whereby said rope will disengage the hook and permit it toswing down on its pivot to release the life raft, a second hook pivoted to the outer end of the first hook and engaging the underside of a second life raft superimposed against the side of the rst life raft. said rod being provided with a second lug disposed at an angle to the first lug, a, second rope hooked over the second lug and engaged with the outer end of the second pivoted hook, said rope engag ing the upper end of the second life raft to hold it against the side of the first life raft, said second lug being disposed at such an angle to the rlrst lug so that rotation of said rod will iirst dis engage the second rope from the second lug before the rst rope will disengage from the rst lug, a gear fixed to said rod, a rack meshing with the gear, a tube fixed to said ship, a second rod rotatably and slidably mounted in said tube and contacting said rack, a cap on said tube formed with a keyslot, a pairl of longitudinally and angularly spaced pins adapted to pass through said keyslot upon alignment therewith, and a handle on said second rod, and releasa'ble means to re tain said second rod against rotation.

12. In combination with a pair of hooks pivotally secured to the side of a ship and engaging the underside of a life raft substantially vertically positioned against the side of the ship, a lug secured to the ship above the life raft, a relatively stii steel cable hooked over the lug and engaging the outer ends of said pair of hooks, said cable engaging the upper end of said life raft to hold it against the side of the ship, whereby if the ship sinks, the life raft, as it reaches the water, will raise the cable oi the lug to release the raft.

ARTHUR N. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,345,366 Szodomka V Mar. 28, 1944 2,336,967 Siverts et al Dec. 14, 1943 1,087,352 Cox et al. Feb. 17, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 109,548 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1917 

